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Amazon brings startup Launchpad to the UK

Amazon has expanded Launchpad, its platform for startups to sell and market their products, to the UK.

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The online retailer's newest marketplace is intended to sell products from startups as well as working with "crowdfunding platforms, venture capitalists" and accelerators.

Its intention is to help young companies launch their products and help to market them. The company says this is so that companies can "stay focussed on product innovation".

At the time of its launch in the UK the website lists smart coffee machines, smartwatches including Pebble Time, Wi-Fi kettles, surfboards and gin from Devon.

Launchpad first became available to the public in the US in July this year, and partnered with crowdfunding sites Kickstarter and Indiegogo, plus the likes of Y Combinator. Many of the products available have been included from those sites.

It will now add partnerships including Crowdcube and Crowdfunder.co.uk to its list of partners, Techcrunch reports.

Christopher North, the managing director of Amazon in the UK, told the Financial Times that the launch is to help small companies with their products in the build-up to Christmas. It's unclear how much of a cut Amazon will take from the products and supporting startups with marketing, however.

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At present the Launchpad programme is only open specific startups which have been invited, and the products must meet a list of eligibility requirements -- however companies can apply online.

It comes as Amazon has slashed the price of its Amazon Prime delivery service for users ahead of its Black Friday sales to £59 for a very limited time.